Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USSOM381

Incident date

March 3, 2023

Location

Turdho village, Lower Juba, Somalia

Geolocation

-0.076498, 42.723166 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

13 al-Shabaab militants were killed during operations allegedly carried out by the Somali National Army Danab Special Forces with the aid of the US Africa Command and the Jubbaland State Forces in Turdho village of Lower Jubba on March 3, 2022.

Garowe Online reported that an operation carried out by the Danab Special Forces with the aid of the US Africa Command resulted in the death of a senior al-Shabaab commander and 12 other militants. Arab Dheeg Ahmed, the commander of the 5th Brigade of the Somali National Army, announced that Aruriyow Mohamed Omar alias Ahmed Salah, who was responsible for coordinating al-Shabaab’s activities in Lower Jubba, was killed during the operation in Turdho village.

The Somali National News Agency (SONNA) similarly reported on the death of senior leader among 13 other members of al-Shabaab, attributing the raid to Somali National Army’s Danab Commandos and the Jubbaland State Forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Turdho, for which the generic coordinates are: -0.076498, 42.723166. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected belligerents
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    13

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Somali Military Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Somali Military Forces
  • Somali Military Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Suspected belligerents
    Somali Military Forces, US Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al-Shabaab
  • Belligerents reported killed
    13

Sources (2) [ collapse]